"Tell me in detail what this hospital process will entail please," I say as I take in the scene literally rolling before me, "what is your level of communications with the Others, have you attempted open dialogue with them?"

"First, insertion of a biomonitor with a link to your optic nerve. After this, your weak arm, and weaker leg will become your 'booster arm and leg'. Microhydraulic pumps attached to a internal limb column of plastic will be installed.  After this, an internal pump and bubble will be inserted in your chest.  This will be a filter that automatically kicks in, if forex you start breathing nerve gas mixed with Oxygen...."

Time's up.

The doors open. He closes his mouth.

"That should be fine. What else will this process do?"

Swiriling black shadows, like the tendrils of some creature appear and are reabsorbed in front of you.  Sparks of lightning occasionally light up the black, which only reveals more disturbing designs in the black shadowy mass, designs not meant to be understood by three-dimenalonal creatures...

"Sidewayz Thing."

Pause.

"Deevarzz."

"I am a sidewayz thing," I say attempting to control my fear as I trace my no-pain rune on my skin, "I am here. As you can see, I have lived many lives, I have journeyed across the universe to be here, I represent the power of thunder and wish to parley with the Shadow leadership directly."

"Speak."  And the shadow changes, becomes more intricate.

"Deewarzz."

For a moment I am reminded of the 5th Element's main antagonist and I try to come up with something intelligible to say. "The denizens of this vessel and the Padzoeikans in general wish no harm to come to them as they explore and seek out new resources. I believe they may be ignorant to the beings of the Shadows' wishes however. What are your goals in this TimeSpace so that we may come to an understanding and have peace between the beings in this Universe?"

I look to the man who has Counsel credentials, "these people, the Padzoeikans, are simple by comparison to you and have baser needs but may in time join you in ascending their limited understanding. Fear is one of their biggest limitations and I can speak with authority on this subject. They fear that which they don't understand and greed can drive them to great lengths as well."

"We/I hold a standard held by 13.4% of the Third Level Species we have encountered.  First Level species are allowed to sample from nearby their stellar mass.  Transport to another wave, or access to 4th and 5th Level species is forbidden."

"And for the third time, we/I ask, Deewarzz."

"I'm sorry, I do not recognize the translation of 'Deewarzz'," I say after a moment's thought, trying to decipher meaning behind the word. Dee, perhaps means dimension, warzz may mean just that, wars. I didn't want to make assumptions that could affect the outcome of this meeting though...

"Please elaborate on the standard which is held by 13.4% of Third Level Species also."

It repeats itself.

"You are not Deewarzz. This is good.  He was sidewayz.  He gave us three warnings, and then destroyed our home planet."

And the Shadow is gone.

I supposed that anyone could go 'sidewayz', even aliens with ungodly power. I turned back to the man beside me. I was thinking that his silence was caused by the shadow, perhaps having frozen time itself while we communed. "You were saying?"

He starts speaking with no sign of an interruption.  "And bio-shellac skin.  We will also outfit you with a Hammer and a Valet."

He pauses to see what you have to say.  Then he takes you to such a person.

The skin is orange and shiny on the man standing at parade rest in his uniform.  He demonstrates taking in a vile lungful of smoke without ill effect.  He demonstrates the strong arm which if braced can lift up to six hundred pounds, once per minute.

"Its a bit of a kludge.  It heats up my arm something fierce." Marine Carstairs says.

I hesitate at hte sight of the man, the skin would present me with problems if I versed with it, and even more if I didn't verse with it, I didn't know if scriff could infiltrate something that was hardened and not really me. Otherwise it seemed like a good upgrade. Interesting to say the least. "Is that bio-shellac skin made from his own skin or is it completely artificial?"

I walk up to the marine, "what are the other negative side-effects soldier?"

"Its created by genmodding his epidermal cells.  It can be shed, and then regrown."
The soldier adds to his superior's comments. "It itches when its shed, and you'll want at least a quart of water to drink when you grow it.  And it will cut your hair for you."

He thinks.

"I can't smoke cigars anymore, to any effect anyway.  I know one in my unit with mild asthmatics, who now takes injectables rather than inhalants."

That shouldn't be a problem then.

I nod to the both of them. "Are there any psychological effects? If not I'm ready."

An earclip is attached to your left ear, and another one to your right.

"The first is a pain control, and the other is a biomonitor."  Doctor Watkins says after he introduces himself.

He is sunk into a virtual reality from which he is controlling a half-dozen robots.  All you have to do is stand in a circle about a yard wide.  Even as you stand there, the bots poke a hole in your chest.

It tickles.

"Interesting," I say aloud as I wonder how that will interact with my runic ability.

I hold still, trying my best to keep the bots from accidentally puncturing my lung or something worse.

The doctor chuckles.

"You could dance, m'boy.  Just solong as you stayin the circle.  My bots are way faster than your human reflexes."

He demos this by cutting a circle design in the hair of your right forearm.  You don't feel even a touch.

Thirty minutes later,he's finishing up. He reduces the pain control so you can feel an ache.

"I don't want you completely pain free.  It will keep you from overexerting yourself."

OOC: Describe your skills working.  The bio shellac takes a minute to activate and turn your skin to shellac.  It also trims your hair to Marine specs.

I examine myself, it feels pretty good, sleek and powerful. I test out my new left and feel the heat. "What's next?"

"A day of rest, taking it easy, and then on to the rigors of training with the other MA's." The doctor says.

One of the other, the town councillor you talked to, steps in, and diffidently adds.
"If that's all right with you."

The doctor flashes him a puzzled glance.

I nod to both. "Relaxation is well and good."

The town councillor shows you to a neat, and compact underground house.  It has a bedroom, a bath, a kitchen, and a parlor.

"This is what we provide our MA's.  I did not consider this, but there are going to be questions.  You see, we're a small community out here in the stars, and you showing up, out of nowhere is going to raise questions.  How would you prefer to deal with this?"

 I clear my throat and prepare to channel House M.D., "just as it is. Truth is, I'm a travelling dignitary. Nice place, I can't remember the last time I've had a place of my own. I'm always sharing space with other beings."

"Perhaps you could pardon my curiousity, but what sort of being are you in your natural form?  The Shadows seem to be gaseous entities with low level magnetic fields.  The Shimmer, we're not sure what they are.

You see, one of the things that drew us on this mission was curiosity, and I have to admit, talking to a representative of a Third Level Society, someone who can probably move planets....well, its not something that happens every day."

 "My body is like a remote, if it dies I am left with no ties to this place," I try not to lie outright, "though I was born on a place called Earth long before your people I think. Your records account for a place like that I believe."